Sheldon Keefe's decision to bench forward David Kampf was intended to send a message to the team, with the coach citing there will be "less tolerance" for defensive mistakes.
Bieksa took issue with Keefe's reasoning and publicly voiced his concerns on Hockey Night In Canada. He labeled Keefe's decision as an excuse for the team's struggling goaltending and criticized the choice of Kampf as the player to send a message.
In Bieksa's view, Kampf being the team's primary defensive center and consistently making solid defensive plays, was the wrong player to bench. Bieksa questioned the effectiveness of singling out one player when the team as a whole was facing defensive challenges.
Expressing frustration, Bieksa wondered about the impact of the decision, asking if the message had truly been sent or if it was merely an attempt to focus on one player in the hope that others would follow suit.
His comments echoed the sentiments of Maple Leafs fans, raising concerns about the team's defensive struggles and the need for corrective measures.
What's the most important need for the Maple Leafs?
POLL | ||
31 DECEMBRE | 443 ANSWERS Ex-NHLer Kevin Bieksa Criticizes Sheldon Keefe On Hockey Night In Canada What's the most important need for the Maple Leafs? | ||
Goaltender | 183 | 41.3 % |
Defenseman | 104 | 23.5 % |
3rd Line Center | 19 | 4.3 % |
New Coach | 137 | 30.9 % |
List of polls |